Pencil



Sept 3,1946.

A.' P. sHELLY PENCIL Filed March 3, 1944 *www 1N VENTOR. AMEN .P SHLLYATToRNgX.

Patented Sept. 3, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PENCIL Allen Shelly,Denver. Colo.

Application March 3, 1944, Serial N0. 524,943

(Cl. 24U-6.46)

4 Claims. 1

This invention relates to improvements in pen cils and has referencemore particularly to an improved pencil that is provided with means forilluminating the paper.

It frequently occurs that it is necessary to write at times whensufficient light is not available to see the paper and the writing. Thisis true more particularly in connection with airplane pilots and moreparticularly during wartime when the plane cannot be properlyilluminated. It also frequently happens that merchants and others takinginventory must work in dimly lighted basements where a self-illuminatingpencil or Writing implement is of great advantage.

It is the object of this invention to produce a pencil of suchconstruction that it can be operated as an ordinary mechanical penciland which, in addition thereto, can be used as a spotlight and whichwill illuminate the paper during the time when it is used for writing.

It is the further object of this invention to produce a pencil orwriting implement of a simplied construction which can be made at aminimum cost and which will be both rugged and substantial.

Another object is to provide a pencil of such construction that asection thereof shall be sufciently translucent to permit mattersprinted on the outer surface to be read by means of the light positionedwithin the pencil and which will therefore adapt the pencil for use inconnection with special calculating devices incorporated therewith andpositioned on the outer surface thereof.

Another object of this invention is to produce a pencil of the typedescribed in which the writing implement is carried by a tubular elementthat is telescopically connected with one portion of the pencil andwhich can be so positioned that it will form an opaque shield betweenthe lamp and the translucent member and which can be moved outwardly soas to expose the inner surface of the translucent member to light.

A still further object of the invention is to produce a pencil of thetype described in which that portion which carries the writing implementcan be entirely removed whereupon the remaining portions of the pencilwill function as a spotlight.

A further object of the invention is toproduce a pencil of the typedescribed in which the switch, by means of which the lamp is controlled,can be readily operated by one hand and which, in addition thereto, willbe of a very simple and substantial construction.

A still further object of the invention is to produce a pencil in whichthe tubular member that carries the writing implement is provided on itsinside with a transparent cylindrical member from the outer end of whichan opening extends inwardly for the reception of the pencil portion,thereby leaving an annular body for transmitting light, the outer end ofwhich is inclined in such a direction as to produce an outwardly flaringlight beam.

Having thus described the invention in a general way and having pointedout the object thereof, the invention will now be described in detail,and for this purpose reference will now be had to the accompanyingdrawing in which the invention has been illustrated in its preferredform and in which:

Figure 1 shows a diametrical section of the pencil;

Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof; A

Figure 3 is a fragmentary View in which parts are shown in elevation andparts in section;

Figure 4 is a View showing a portion of the pencil in diametricalsection;

Figure 5 is a section taken on line 5 5, Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a section taken on line 6 6, Figure l; and

Figure 7 isr a fragmentary section similar to that in Figure l, showingthe construction to a larger scale.

In the drawing reference numeral I0 designates a tubular casing havingone end closed as indicated at Il, and the other end provided with athreaded section I2. A strip of metal I3 is p0- sitioned in alongitudinally extending recess in the inner surface of the casing andterminates in a transversely extending section I4. A spring I5 of theshape shown or of any other suitable shape, is positioned in electricalcontact with the transversely extending part I4 and serves to effectanelectrical connection between the battery I6 and strip I3.

A tubular mem-ber, which has been designated in its entirety byreference numeral I'I, is threadedly connected with the tubular casingas shown in Figure 1. Member Il is provided at its inner end with acylindrical section I8 in which is positioned an electrical socket I9.This lsocket is not provided with threads in the embodiment shown, buthas its inner end provided with an outwardly extending flange 20 and itsouter end with an inwardly extending flange 2l. The inner end of thesocket is provided with an in- Wardly extending tongue 22, whichoverlaps the outer end of strip i3 and forms an electrical connectionbetween the socket and this strip when the tongue is rotated into aposition in which it engages the strip. A miniature electric lamp 23having a base of ordinary construction and the contact 24 is positionedin the socket and the center contact is normally in engagement with thecenter contact 25 of the battery. When tongue 22 contacts strip I3, acurrent will flow through the filament of the lamp and cause the same tobecome illuminated, By turning the tubular member I1 relative to casingIU, the circuit to the lamp can be broken. Tongue 22 serves as a movableswitch element for controlling the oper-- ation of lamp 23. The partsare so adjusted that when member I1 is screwed tightly into engagem mentwith the casing, the switch will be` opened and therefore to close theswitch, the two mem bers must he rotated in direction to slightlyseparate the abutting ends.

Tubular member I1 is provided with a cylindrical opening having sectionsof two different diameters. The outer section has been designated byreference numeral 26 and the other or intermediate section by referencenumeral 21. |lelescopically connected with tubular member I1 is a pencilportion comprising a tube 28 of metal, such as brass, and of a diameterwhich forms a sliding lit with the tubular section 26. This tubenormally extends inwardly to the point indicated by reference numeral29. Positioned within the tube and iilling the same completely, is atransparent cylinder 3U which is preferably formed from some transparentplastic such as that which is sold under the trade name of Lucite Thetransparent member 30 has an axial opening in which is positioned amechanical pencil 3|. The lead has been designated by reference numeral32. Since the mechanical pencil portion forms no part of this inventionexcept in so far as it forms an element of the combination, it will notbe described in detail..

The diameter of the axial opening is less than the outside diameter ofthe transparent member and this leaves an annular body through whichlight from lamp 23 will pass when the lamp is lighted. The light emergesthrough the rearwardly tapering frustoconical end surface 33 and due torefraction is directed outwardly at a small angle as indicated by dottedlines 34 in Figure 2. The light strikes the paper around the lead 32 andgives suiiicient illumination to enable the writing to be seen.

Attention is called to the fact that the cylindrical section 21 is ofsomewhat larger diameter than the tube 2B so that any dust particlesthat may be trapped in the pencil will fall into the annular space thusformed and by means of this enlarged section, the thickness of thetranslucent member I1 can be decreased to any desired extent. When theparts are in the position shown in Figure 1, lamp 23 is lighted andlight traverses the transparent member 30, but no light shows throughthe wall of the translucent member because the inner end of tube 28forms an opaque shield.

In the commercial form of the pencil, the translucent section I1 isprovided with a ring 35 having two scales 35 and 31. The adjacent outeredge of tubular member I1 is provided with a scale 38 that cooperateswith scale 35 and with a scale 39 that cooperates with scale 21. Themovable ring and the stationary scales on the translucent member form aslide rule which can be used for various purposes. These slide rules 4are well known, the special construction of the slide rule will not bedescribed. The structure of the pencil, however, that adapts it for thispurpose is believed to be novel. When tube 30 is withdrawn to theposition shown in Figure 3, light from the lamp will pass through thetranslucent member I1 in sumcient quantity to enable the slide rule tobe read at any time. Since the divisions on the slide rule arecomparatively small, a magnifying glass 4 has been provided. rI'he endsof this magnier are positioned in rings 4IA and 42 that are rotatablymounted in external grooves on member I1. The closed end of the tubularcasing is provided with a recess for the reception of an eraser 43.

The pencil portion comprising the tube 30 and parts associated therewithcan be completely re moved from the tubular member I1 as shown in Figure4 and when so removed the remaining portions will function as aspotlight that can be used for whatever purpose may be desired. i Inaddition to illuminating the scale of the slide rule, the constructionby means of which light is permitted to shine through the translucentmember also serves to facilitate the locating of the pencil in the dark,because the translucent section will permit light t0 pass when the partsare in the position shown in Figure 3. The position of the lead can becontrolled by means of the rotatable end portion 44 intheusual manner.

A clip 45 is secured to the tubular'casing and serves to attach thepencil to the welt of a pocket or to any other support.

From the above description it will be apparent that the pencil describedis of a simple and substantial construction; the switch can becontrolled by one hand which is a great convenience for airplane pilotsand others who may have only one hand free to manipulate the pencil. Theoutwardly Haring beam of light is also Very desirable because unless thelight is directed outwardly in the shape of a cone and merely extendsforwardly in the form of a cylinder, the area illuminated is so small asto make it difcult for the writer to follow the lines. The combinationof elements, aside from the pencil assembly, forms a spot light that canbe controlled by the switch which is operated by the relative rotationof the casing and the tubular member.

Particular attention is called to the construction of the lamp socketwhich has its inner end provided with an outwardly extending flange andthe outer end with an inwardly extending ilange and which is alsoprovided with a tongue` 22. This socket is of simple constructionand cantherefore be made without the necessity of providing expensive toolswhich simplifies and lessens the cost of manufacture and which alsomakes it possible to insert and remove the lamp from the inner end ofthe socket. It is evidentA that an ordinary screw base employed in aposition like that shown in Figure 1 would require the lamp to beinserted from the outside and in order to do this the socket would haveto be removed and inserted or else a special tool provided formanipulating the lamp.

Attention is called at this point to the fact'that.

the outer end of the transparent member 3D, is also provided with anarrow frusto-conical surface 46 which refracts some of thelightinwardly the circular area about otherwise be shaded.

Having described the invention what is claimed as new is:

l. A combined nashlight and pencil comprising, in combination, a tubularcasing having one end closed and the other open, a strip of conductingmaterial extending from the closed end to a point adjacent the open end,the casing having a threaded section extending inwardly from the openend, a tubular member threadedly connected with the casing, a lampsocket positioned in the inner end of the tubular member, the outer` endof the socket having an inturned nange forming a stop for the base of aminiature electric lamp, the inner end of the socket having an outwardlydirected flange terminating in an inwardly extending tongue positionedto co-ntaot with and overlap the outer end of the conducting strip, thatpart of the socket between the flanges being free from threads, a lamppositioned in the socket, a battery positioned in the casing, resilientmeans for urging the battery outwardly and electrically connecting itwith the conducting strip, the center contact of the battery beingpositioned to engage the center contact of the lamp, whereby when thetubular member and the casing are rotated relative to each other tobring the tongue into engagement with the strip the lamp will belighted, a cylindrical member of transparent material positioned in thetubular member, said transparent material having an axial opening, and apencil in the opening.

2. A combined flashlight and writing implement, comprising incombination, a 'tubular casing having one end closed, a strip ofconducting material extending from the closed to a point adjacent theopen end, the casing having a threaded section extending inwardly fromthe open end, a battery in the casing, resilient means for effecting anelectrical connection between the the lead which would battery and thestrip of conducting material and for urging the battery outwardly, atubular member of translucent material threadedly connected with thecasing, a lamp socket free from threads positioned in the inner end ofthe tubular member, the outer end of the socket having an inturnedflange forming a stop for the base of a miniature electric lamp, aminiature electric lamp positioned in the socket with the centerterminal facing the battery and normally in contact with its centercontact of the latter, a resilient tongue of conducting materialextending inwardly from the socket, in position to engage the outer endof the conducting strip, whereby the lamp will be lighted by a relativerotation of the casing and the tubular member, a metal tubetelescopically connected with the tubular member, a cylindrical memberof transparent material positioned in the metal tube, terminating somedistance from the inner end of the metal tube, whereby the tube forms anopaque shield between the lamp and the inner surface of the translucentmember when it is in its innermost position, the transparent memberhaving an axial opening extending inwardly for the reception of apencil, and a pencil in the opening.

3. A device in accordance with claim l in which the outer end of thetransparent cylinder has an inwardly and rearwardly taperedfrusto-conical surface whereby the beam of light will be outwardlyflaring.

4. A device in accordance with claim l in which the cuter end of thetransparent cylinder has an inwardy and rearwardly tapered rusto-conicalsurface for refracting an outwardly flaring beam ci light, and anoutwardly and rearwardly aring conical surface for refracting a tubularbeam of light inwardly towards the tip of the pencil to illuminate thearea directly adjacent the point where the pencil contacts the paper.

ALLEN P. SHELLY.

